I for one am interested in different cultures and religious beliefs that inherently influenced those cultures and have become basis for unique and sometimes bizzare but nonetheless interesting and captivating cultures worldwide. Being baptized as an orthodox Christian born in eastern slavic country that during it's history had dozens of cultures living, clashing and interchanging on it's teritory i sometimes question myself, what is an inherent and essential part of what makes me what i am?
So the questions are:
1. Is a religious ascpect of cultures woldwide interesting to you, or you prefer less theological point of view?
2. Do you know someone that identifies as pagan, maybe a slavic one, and what you think of such people?
3. Do you think that interest of old and sometimes more dark aspects of our civilization is a good thing, or something that was left in past must be forgotten forever?
Comments
2. No, I personally don’t know anyone who identifies himself as a pagan. I think that every normal person should tolerate any differences and preferences of other people as long as the don’t harm anyone in any way. Actually, the term “pagan” sounds pejorative, but I guess that the Catholic Church made up that word to name someone whose faith is inappropriate and primitive. Luckily, we live in a world where everyone is free to believe in everything he wants to, maybe with an exception of the territories ruled by Muslim extremists.
3. I think that we should never forget about any aspect of our past. Trying to do so generates an impression of being false and trying to conceal something. Every nation has something to be ashamed of, but unfortunately some of them would never admit that.
2. I don't know anyone like that.
3. My boss does Tarot and she is interested in the occult. She combines faith in god and witchcraft. Oddly enough, she thinks the occult is not bad. As for me, one excludes the other but maybe I have very small mind.
In my opinion, religious aspects of culture are very interesting. When I travel I always try to get to know what religion and rules are in the country I'm in. First of all, is't really interesting, sometimes it is the oldest sign of life and history of any country. Secondly, I feel much better and safer when I know what I can or cannot do.
2. Do you know someone that identifies as pagan, maybe a slavic one, and what you think of such people?
Yes, I know many people who identifies themselves as pagans. Also I don't have any problem with this, I am really tolerant person and I don't judge people because of their beliefs but because of their actions.
3. Do you think that interest of old and sometimes more dark aspects of our civilization is a good thing, or something that was left in past must be forgotten forever?
We always should remember all history of our civilization and especially our dark times. We know proverbs as "history is circling" or "history repeats itself", which teach us that if we want to prevent dark moments repeating in the future, we have to know how it started.
I prefere lesstheological point of view , I don't believe in in something, for me its funny , any kind of religion devised by someone who wants to earn. Am sorry but this is mine point.
2. Do you know someone that identifies as pagan, maybe a slavic one, and what you think of such people?
Maybe I know some people who identifies as a pagan, but everyone who know me, don't talk with me about religion ect. because they know that they don't come around me , and only hear who stupid it is.
3. Do you think that interest of old and sometimes more dark aspects of our civilization is a good thing, or something that was left in past must be forgotten forever?
No, people should to believe only in fact and truth, not in imaginary gods (created bceause someone wants to earn and more control people) . We should to see what is around us and sacrifice our time to only existing things.
I don't like the theme of religion ,I immediately start to get angry, why do such topics? If there were more presentations this week, I would avoid this one.
2. Do you know someone that identifies as pagan, maybe a slavic one, and what you think of such people?
I don't know these people, I hope to never find out. It seems to me that religion is a method of managing people and earning money, it was effective 500 years ago. I don't want to write anymore.
3. Do you think that interest of old and sometimes more dark aspects of our civilization is a good thing, or something that was left in past must be forgotten forever?
I want and hope that people when you will stop believing all sorts of nonsense and pseudo religion. And start spending time and money on more important things.
2. I don't think so. However, if I knew this person, really I don't care. Really. Don't judge a book by its cover ;) Their actions are more important than their beliefs.
3. I do not fully understand what do you mean, but I guess it's about pseudo-faith and fake/imaginated gods? If so, I think that should be forgotten. We should focus on actual religions and beliefs.
Yes, I like reading about old religions and cultures but in my opinion all religions are relic of the past and we should all renounce them in order to evolve as a civilization.
2.
I don't and I think believing in such things is silly. But if it helps someone to live easier life then they should believe in everything they want.
3.
It is crucial not to forget about those things. We should learn from mistakes of our ancestors and from their cultural achievements.
I dont really have friends (that i know of) that would be openly claiming to be pagan for example.
As long as our exploration ends on potential of choice not pressure from dead people called "traditions". Its all good until we trick ourselves into making traditions out of some of the more or less obscure festivities. Thats the only gripe of mine i hate "traditions " as they are, it should be matter of choice not pressure from everyone around to behave as they expect you to do.
us.
2. I met some people with it in a mind, but i dont care in what you believe, if you had it in mind and dont propagand.
3. “A people who do not know their past has no future”
1. Is a religious aspect of cultures worldwide interesting to you, or you prefer less theological point of view?
It's a good way to understand people in such countries.
2. Do you know someone that identifies as pagan, maybe a Slavic one, and what you think of such people?
Quite a lot of people that are in metal community identifies themselves as pagans, they often make pagan influenced music.
However I think that raise of pagan culture nowadays is mostly sponsored, and driven by Russians who try to separate countries from NATO, and suggest them to
form a new Baltic alliance (without USA) which would be a lot easier to conquer.
3. Do you think that interest of old and sometimes more dark aspects of our civilization is a good thing, or something
that was left in past must be forgotten forever?
Slavs had their own mythology, religion and culture. Its quite a shame that we replaced it with things that we don't have anything in common.
I dont like to speak about religion and its culture. I'm always trying to stay away from it. When i was younger, i read a lot about it, i could read for hours, because i was too interested in it.
I don't know someone who identifies as pagan, maybe it was my old friend who moved to Israel, but i'm not sure. I don't care about that type of people. If it is a good person and his attitude is good for me, i'm not againt him/her.
I can't say, as i mentioned, i don't like to speak about that, honestly, i don't have enough words to describe what i want to share. But i think, if it was left in the past, it must be forgotten forever (it's all about religion aspects)
Ok, somehow I feel like the aspects mentioned in the first question are a little bit mutually exclusive. For me religious aspects of cultures worldwide are an interesting topic especially from a historical point of view. Religion has always had a tremendous impact on various aspects of people’s lifes and on the surrounding world e.g. an architecture. But those aspects matter to me only because of my inquisitive nature and they matter only in a form of seeing the cultural impact, because on day to day basis I prefer less theological point of view as I’m an agnostic person.
2. Do you know someone that identifies as pagan, maybe a slavic one, and what you think of such people?
I don’t know any real pagan, maybe one of my old classmates tried to identify as a something pagan-like but it was only some kind of teenagers trend in that time in that place. Anyway I have an opinion that as long as your behavior doesn’t hurt anyone (directly or indirectly) – do whatever you like to do.
3. Do you think that interest of old and sometimes more dark aspects of our civilization is a good thing, or something that was left in past must be forgotten forever?
Our whole civilization is based on countless historical achievements and we should always keep them in minds. What is more important – if we know history we could learn by mistakes from the past, and that concerns anyone, anywhere.
I believe it is hard to find a country or a region thats culture is not (at least a bit) connected to its religion at some point. My hobby is travelling and getting to know different cultures, so, because religious aspects are often part of them, I believe that yes, I find them interesting (but still, I don't want to join any cults :P).
2. Do you know someone that identifies as pagan, maybe a slavic one, and what you think of such people?
I PROPABLY do not. But I cannot be sure! I do not pay any attention to someones beliefs and faith. I believe that anyone can worship whatever they want as long as they do not hurt others (or their feelings!). So, I have never asked anyone question "What is your religion?", because the answer won't mean anything to me. I prefer to judge people by their characters, and it applies to pagans too. Thus I do not know if any of my friends is pagan, muslim or even a pastafarian ;).
3. Do you think that interest of old and sometimes more dark aspects of our civilization is a good thing, or something that was left in past must be forgotten forever?
I believe that this question is a bit deeper than previous two. I am not sure what do you mean by the word "interest". Just getting to know old religions,
behaviours, etc. or starting to repeat them again? Well, knowing the history of our civilization is crutial and should NEVER be forgotten. Why? It's a way of learning. Unarguably, there were many mistakes, or darker moments in the past, but we should draw conclusions from these rather than "leaving them in the past".
So, if you mean "interest" as not forgetting the past and working on it - it's more than needed. Else, going back to doing harmful and unethic things form the past (like sacrifying people for god!) is rather a bad idea.
2. I do not know anyone and it's hard for me to express my opinions without listening to him.
3. We should be interested in what it once was to not make the same mistakes again.
I also was baptized as a kid. When I grew up I was disgusted by this fact, as this was obviously done without my permission. Good thing that in orthodox this ritual only requires bathing in water, and not something more despicable, like the jews circumcisions, for instance. Nevertheless, either out of protest, or just to severe any bonds with this religion, later my age I was debaptized with a satanic ritual (which also included nothing more than washing hands).
Religion and culture are not separable – one emerge from other. Every culture in the world have some sort of religious acts and beliefs. As an ethnologist I can’t research culture without its religious roots. In my personal life I don’t care about religion, it’s not for me, but all the religions are amazing to discover and learn about. Religion tells a lot about the people of specific culture.
2. Do you know someone that identifies as pagan, maybe a slavic one, and what you think of such people?
I know a few people who indentify as pagans and they’re really commited to their beliefs and religious acts. What I think about them? I don’t know... they’re like every other religious person – they believe in something and they want to practice their believes. Maybe they’re a little bit more interesting than believers of the main religions.
3. Do you think that interest of old and sometimes more dark aspects of our civilization is a good thing, or something that was left in past must be forgotten forever?
We shouldn’t forget anything about our past – it formed us as we are now. We shouldn’t argue what should be forgotten and what should be remembered. Everyone ought to do what they want with their beliefs. Actually, past can teach us what not to do in the future.
2. I don't know anyone like that. We live on a planet where more than 7 billion people live, so such people exist and will exist. I believe that everyone should accept such persons, and people who identify themselves as pagans, etc. should accept all others.
Maybe some of these people do not want others to know such things about them.
3. In my opinion, such interests are interesting and thanks to such people it is possible to discover the dark past. People should have access to information about what was (good and bad). We need history because thanks to history we know the mistakes of the past and we can not commit them in the future.
For example, when people are trying to find a “gods will” in natural events.
No, I don’t know anyone who identifies herself or himself as a pagan and I don’t think I'd have a problem with it. I believe I am understanding and tolerant and I think no-one should be disrespected as long as their believes are not offending or hurting other people.
I think people are learning from their mistakes so we should never forget about our past, even the darkest past. We should draw a lesson from our mistakes and try not to repeat them.
I don't know any pagans.
We should never forget our past but we should not judge someone by their past too.
A theological point of view of a culture certainly includes its religious aspect.
2. Do you know someone that identifies as a pagan, maybe a slavic one, and what do you think of such people?
I’m not aware of such people in my closest circles. What people identify as is of little concern to me, unless it’s the reason for attempts at my personal freedom. That or they are just being obnoxious.
3. Do you think that interest of old and sometimes more dark aspects of our civilization is a good thing, or something that was left in past must be forgotten forever?
It’s silly to forget the past regardless of circumstance. Personally I find studying the roots of cultures and civilisations fascinating. Still it’s important to remember that history may inform us on who we are but need not define it.
Certainly, religion from ancient times has a tremendous influence on the culture of different peoples of the world, and if we delve into the historical past of civilizations, we cannot but touch upon the religious aspects of life.
2. Do you know someone that identifies as pagan, maybe a slavic one, and what you think of such people?
I do not divide people in my surroundings on religious grounds and cannot label them in accordance with the religions they adhere to.
3. Do you think that interest of old and sometimes more dark aspects of our civilization is a good thing, or something that was left in past must be forgotten forever?
Fortunately, we live in such a time where everyone is free to practice religious teachings or not to be guided by them in life. But the story that we are writing on today's events is not so dependent on religious aspects, as it seems to me.
Not really , I don't feel this whole religous atmosphere. I was in Vatican once and in that one time i felt something, something big and overwhelming I cant explain it.
I don't know anyone who identifies as pagan. To be honest i don't know much about this group.
It depends, sometimes it is good, but mostly people overreact about "dark past" and it is not healthy.
I identify myself as agnostic, and try to respect anyones believing, but not really interested in religious aspects if life.
2. Do you know someone that identifies as pagan, maybe a slavic one, and what you think of such people?
I don't know anyone, the last time I heard this word were history classes at school, I didn't know that there are people out there that are identifying themselves as pagans, as mentioned before I respect personal choice.
3. Do you think that interest of old and sometimes more dark aspects of our civilization is a good thing, or something that was left in past must be forgotten forever?
People should learn history, and extract lessons from previous generations. But I don't care a lot about ancient religions history.
2. I don’t know anyone that I could identifies as pagan. As long as they are not aggressive and they do not want to sacrifice me to their gods, they don’t bother me. Some of them just look for something new and exciting live, some want that old “better” times back. It’s their decision.
3. We should never forget our past as philosopher George Santayana said, “Those who forget their history are condemned to repeat it.”
2. I personally don't know any pagans and it does seem quite strange to me.
3. I believe in freedom of faith and as long as everyone keep it to themselves nothing bad should happen.